Apparatus foe automatically controlling- the headlights oe



July 3, 1923. 1,460,965

J. L. ILES ET AL APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE HEADLIGHTS OF .AIWIOMOBILES Filed Sept. 27 1922 Patented July 3, 1923i UNITED sonar 1,. time .afnn r APPARATUS FOR AUTDMIMPIGTHLTIFZ CONTROLLING F 'ii l ittll liil lll" V tilll 'l lfitE.

Application filed Fteptcmher $37, 195M5 2.

i The present invention relates to improve ments in apparatus for automatically con trolling the headlights of automobiles in which the lights are of a dirigihle character adapted to turn with the steering); movement of the vehicle for the purpose oi illuminat ing the road at sharp curves and a corners where fixed lights direct the beams only to one side leaving the major portion of the roadway in total darkness.

It is an object oi the invention to accomplish this movement oi? the lamps simply and by inexpensive parts which will not add materially to the present tront construction of vehicles, and particularly the invention aims to avoid any rattling or vibration in the lamps or adjoining parts to the end that the movement may be accomplished noiselessly and effectively.

With the foregoing; and other objects in view the invention will be more fully de scribed hereinafter, and will he more partic ularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols referito like or corresponding}; parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one of the lamps showing the improved connection.

Figure 2 is a side view oi? the same.

Figure 3 is a front view thereo'h Figure l is a section taken on the line d l in Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the lamp bearing and,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bearingcone.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 designates the usual automobile head lamp supported upon the post 2 and 3 designates a radiator or other portion of the vehicle indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8 to Qerial .rl'o. 5190,8455.

which the bracket t is attached carrying; the headlamp. The steering cross-rod is repre seated at 5 and moves transversely ot the vehicle with the steerin movement in a well lcnown manner. The bracket 4i: carries a bearing 6 poi-tore ted vertically to receive the halt *1 which serves to hold in place the supporting; trams tor the lamp-post 2. This supporting trams involves a pair of rear parallel arms 8 and 9 projecting; respectively above and below the hrachet bearing; 6 and also perforated to receive the bolt 7 which is provided with the spring washer 10 and nut ill hind these various parts tightly to gether. i

The trame further consists oil. a vertical web 19/ ronnectin the arms 8 and 9 and en'- tendina ahove the upper arm. Forwardly projecting arms and 1.4 are also carried hv the web 12 and are oilset upwardly with 5 spect to the rear arms as will be clear from .i ms 9 and 5. These forward arms are also pertt'oii'atcd to receive the lamp-post 2 downwardly therethrounth. The perforation in the upper arm is preferably produced by a diiided hearing in which the rear portion oi the bearing is designated at 15 and is made in one piece with the upper arm 13 while the torward portion of the bearing section 16 lite upon the outside of the post 2. The hearing: sections are provided with lat eral cars 17 and per-iterated to receive the holts 19 which support the outer section 16, the bolts being provided with spring lock washers 20 and with. nuts 21. The heads of the bolts engage the ends oi a flat spring 22 which bears intermediately against the central portion oi? the outer hearing section 16 urging this hearing section yieldably against the post 52. From time to time as wear occurs the nuts 9d. may be ti grhtened to set the s n-inn; and bearing up.

The bearing; section 15 is also preferably recessed in order to receive the flat spring; 23 or a number of shims: and these parts may be replaced but it will be understood that due to the spring action oi? the outer hoarinp; section wear will be automatically compensated for and the hearing; will adapt itself to any changes in the lamp-post due to wear.

Now the lower perforated arm M is provided with a seat 24!.- pretterahly ct brass in order to receive the bearing cone 25 which is attired to the lower reduced or flattened end of thepost 2. This bearing cone is pro 'vided initially with lugs 26 as shown in.

Figure 6 having flat inner faces to fit against the normally flat sides at the lower portion of the lamp-post and these lugs are preferably milled to the post. The weight of the lamp is thus sustained principally by the cone and the upper bearing torms a steadying support for the parts. Below the arm 14 is a washer 27 engaged by the coil spring 28 held in adjustable tension by a nut 29. The nut 29 cooperates with a lock out 30 to hold therebetween the double per forated end portion 31 of the tint curved spring 32, which extends between the lamp post and the steering oross-rod 5. The connecti on at both ends of the spring'SQ is made an any suitable manner such for instance as by the nuts upon the post 2 and the bolts engaging thereturned lower end of the spring upon-the cross-rod. The connection andarrangenient is such that as the cross- Jrod moves transversely it willswing the lamp-post 2 and thus turn the lamp 1 in the theturn. The construction of the frame 12 enables a secure purchase upon the lamp "bracket and also affords a two-point support for the lamp-post. The cone 25 substan' tially supports the lamp and post and it is held close against its seat by the action of the coil spring 28 which tends to draw the post 2 axially down. Consequently the bearing is automatically taken up as wear occurs. This wear of course will be slight and the upper arm 13 provides spring pressure a :;-'iiiiist any later vibration so that the lamp is held substantially rigid while being capable of executing easily the movement to the right or left.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifi- :ally described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the folloving claim:

What is claimed is:

A head lamp having a post, a bracket frame carried by the vehicle having; upper and lower arms, said upper arm having a divided bearing engaging about the post, spri means to urge the bearing sections together upon the post, a flat spring embedded in. one of the bearings and engaging said post, a cone bearing carried by the post and seating upon the lower arm. an adjustable spring for drawing the hearing means against said seat, a curved fiat spring ongaging tightly about the lower end of said steering post and having its other end affixed to the steering cross-rod, substantially as described.

JOHN L. ILES. JOHN T. ILES. 

